PokerStars introduces VIP Steps beta in UK, players show negative feedback

PokerStars has invited players in the United Kingdom to participate in a test of 'VIP Steps'- a new VIP Club system at PokerStars. As part of this beta test, players will be the first to discover this new feature and will have the opportunity to send feedback to finalize the implementation of VIP steps on the rest of the global market.

How PokerStars explains the new system: "VIP Steps are a new way of earning FPPs by completing a Progress Bar that will be displayed on the table and in the lobby. This progress bar will show players how close they are to completing their next VIP Step and how many FPPs they receive each time that they complete a VIP Step. Instead of linearly earning FPPs in the background, FPPs will be released upon completion of the progress bar at the table. One of the primary purposes of Steps is to surface VIP Rewards to players so that there is a more intuitive relationship between playing and earning FPPs. The visualization is a key component to this. We expect this to be a more engaging method for players to earn and understand their rewards. The Steps are designed so that most players can complete a Step in a typical session or two and will thus have something to play for in any given session.

VIP Steps will also help players track their progression towards maintaining and increasing their status in the VIP Club by showing how many Steps are needed to either maintain or progress to the next tier. The Steps progress bar will also display notifications when approaching a new VIP Status, and alerts when risking loss of VIP status due to the end of the month approaching. Players will be able to customize whether you want to see these notifications or not. At the end of the month for monthly statuses, and end of the year for Supernova+ VIP statuses, players will receive 50% of the prorated value of their incomplete current Step.

The 50% prorated value for an incomplete Step was not designed as a means to reduce rewards, but rather to improve player engagement with VIP Rewards and incentivize players to complete their Step at the end of the month. The values of the Steps are configured with the understanding that not every player will complete their last Step and earn its full reward. Given our commitment to keep 2015 VIP Club Rewards unchanged, for the 2015 United Kingdom implementation players will receive the full 100% value, and will thus earn either the same amount of FPPs, or more, than in the current UK VIP Club. VPPs requirements for monthly and annual statuses are not affected by VIP Steps for the UK implementation. "

That 2% hike for the end of a 5th step will not make up for the 50% loss of a level left incomplete. For a supernova who makes say 12.5k VPPs/month this really sucks. The little hikes for step 5 does not make up for the 50% loss of the current incomplete step. e.g. SN makes 12.5k VPPs/month, that's 43750FPPs /month in old money. Every month they lose 4375fpps 0.5(2500VPPs X 3.5) = 4375. And they gain 1750fpps at the end of every 5 steps. They would be doing 30 steps per year, so +10500fpps from step 5 hikes, but -52500fpps from the 50% decrease for incomplete steps. Gets worse for closer to the 5k VPP step; regs who maintain say 14k on their schedule, ouch. And is better for precisely 10k/month SN regs.... Anyone wanna check if this looks right?

A comment from a 2p2'er:

So, I've read through it, and here's how I understand it The VIP levels are being broken down into smaller steps, and the size of each step depends on how far you've already progressed up the ladder, with the steps getting bigger as you get further each month/year AFAICT, it looks like if you make enough VPP to finish each step then you're unaffected and don't lose any FPP value compared to the old (current) scheme In fact, if I've read it right, you even get a little bonus for every five steps you complete, looks to be 2% extra FPP if you complete each fifth step (4% for Bronze) But the flip side is twofold 1) you don't get your FPP immediately, you only get it in a chunk when you complete your step, so Stars gets to hold on to your FPP value for a bit longer, and when multiplied across the whole player base that adds up to a lot of money that they can keep their grubby little mitts on for a bit longer 2) (and this is the real sting) is that when you don't earn enough VPP to complete a step then you lose 50% of the FPP you would have previously earned since the last complete step In summary, it looks like yet another money grab by Stars, because almost everyone won't finish exactly at the end of a step level, and so will lose that 50% FPP value. It's only a little bit per person, but it all adds up to a decent amount of money saved for Stars Also, looks like .UK players only at the moment, but if this is a "success" then I don't think anyone would be surprised if this was rolled out across the whole site.

ayyy we wanna increase revenue by 0.3% so here's a pretty ui and a fuck you

I have like $500 worth of fpps and bonuses which I haven't cashed, is it better to cash this in now before this regime starts? Will this regime affect it?

Sorry tldr OP

Ever since Amaya has taken over, their policy seems to be, "if players have an issue with anything, we don't really give a fuck if it doesn't affect our bottom line"

Ridiculous, get your greedy little mitts off players FPPs Amaya!

A Goldstar, the step size is 250 VPP, the most they can lose if they end a month at the worst possible moment is 249 FPP (given their 2x modifier), or $4. $48 on the year if they get it as badly timed as possible, not quite the $60 per month in losses the article claims.

huh?